The Vines Sisters & Family pause during their performance tour in Switzerland: Johnny Ray Daniels, Alice Vines, Dorothy”Sis” Daniels, Mattie Harper, Curt Harper. Back: Anthony “Amp” Daniels and Joe Daniels
From the time when she was a little girl, Dorothy (Sis, to everyone) sang at home, at school, and at church. And the singing at church became a dominant power in her life.
Sis remembers and talks about how the family gathered at Pa and Ma’s house when she was growing up
Sis spent over five decades singing and helping to spread the gospel through song. As a member of The Glorifying Vines Sisters, Sis sang lead on “Call on God,” “How Long,” and “Getting Ready to Go.” She performed and recorded “A Thousand Tongues,” as a duet with her son, Amp.
Dorothy “Sis” Daniels delivering a spiritual message through her singing and testimony.
Anthony “Amp” Daniels shares his thoughts about his mother:
It began in a 2-story red house on Statonburgs Road, rural Pitt County, Greenville, North Carolina. There, God endowed/painted an anointing internally that transcends outwardly to impact others. There was always a knowing internally that something different was unexplainable, an unstoppable destiny and purpose designed to interrupt the activity meant to hinder, with the divine anointing of fire.
Through elements of life, God purposefully set the pathway through life’s challenges, and seemingly unpenetrable odds were divinely orchestrated for my triumph. Reflection over the years echoes the wisdom of my Late Grandparents, Robert and Lillie Gay, and Mother, Lucille Blow, enabling a knowing “My Redeemer Lives” And “I Learned to Depend On God” are my portion of perseverance “Keep Going.”
Furthermore, a flame ignites from Andre Crouch’s Tribute, “To God Be the Glory,” Maya Angelou’s poem, “Life Doesn’t Frighten., Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken,” and a life-changing poem. “I Shall Not Pass This Way Again.” And a thought-provoking fictional book, The Shack” by William Young.
My heartbeats: Kim and Terrell (sons: Tyson, Cameron, Austin), Crystal, and Angela filled my life with joy, love, laughter, happiness, and tears of being a Mom and Grandma. I determined my divas would roar high, and so they are and Still fills my heart. The joy of being a grandma is “icing.”
A Four-Step Model, “Stay Focused, Linked Up, Pursue, and Conquer,” allowed me to impact the lives of many individuals in the PK-12 Public School and Community College educational systems as an educator and administrator. Why pursue a Doctor of Education Degree, specializing in Educational Leadership and Management, evolves an affirmation of being positioned to upset the norm. There is an urgency and demand for peculiar people to produce unusable outcomes.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”Roman 8:28
Crystal Gay, Kim Gay Smith, Dr. Eunice M. Gay, Angela Gay
My mom is our hero. We have many memories of our mom’s journey. What stands out the most are two things – (1) her trust in God and (2) her devotion to family. To put it plainly, as our mother reached out to God as her guide, she kept her hand back to lead others in His ways. As the daughters of an educator and minister, she deposited 4 core beliefs in us. Any cousin or family friend can more than likely quote these words:
From Her Daughters
1. Stay Focused
2. Link Up
3. Pursue
4. Conquer
Every car ride to school included prayer and reciting this life mantra. She taught us how to speak life into our future with great expectations. Yes, her hand extended back to us to lead us in His ways. Now that we are older, we greatly appreciate who she is in our lives. When the day came that she shared her desire to pursue her doctorate, we had so many questions.
We wondered why now and how long will it take. We quickly shifted our mindset to what she taught us through this life mantra, as listed above. I quickly understood that she was in pursuit of something greater. She was not going to stop until she conquered her goal. As the Word of God reminds us in Philippians 3:13-14, she pressed towards the mark.
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
Today, we want to take a moment to give honor and acknowledge her accomplishing her dream of becoming Dr. Eunice May Gay. She will soon walk across the stage at Capella University’s Commencement at the Charlotte Convention Center with a Doctor of Education Degree, Specializing in Educational Leadership and Management.
Dr. Gay’s dissertation is titled, “The Impact of Teacher Attrition and Low Morale.”. Many years of servicing in the PK-12 and Community College educational system prompted her pursuing a Doctor of Education Degree, further impacting educational leadership at the state and national levels.
So, family, join us in celebrating Dr. Eunice M.Gay. Her commencement program will take place on Friday, March 3, 2023. While seats are limited, you can certainly view the graduation online when the information becomes available.
As you give her flowers while she is yet here – albeit through encouraging words or gifts, we also remind you to continue your press towards the mark.
Let the words of Jeremiah ring in your hearts. “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
gayparkerfamilyreunion 